A WOMAN suffering from arthritis is to embark on a gruelling 22-mile walk after promising her late father she would do it to raise cash for the group which supported his fight against cancer.

Rachael Ponsford, 37, from Cleobury Mortimer, is taking part in the Bridgnorth Walk on Monday, May 31, with her 42-year-old sister, Kim Kirszniok, and friends, Jenny Harper, Melody Wilkinson, Emma Macvean and Emma Griffin.

Their team is called "Arthur's Angels" after Rachael and Kim's beloved father, Arthur Jones, who died at 67 in February - just a month after his daughter promised him she would take part in the event to generate funds for the Kidderminster and District Prostate Cancer Support Group.

"It isn't going to be easy for me because I've got rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, knees and feet but I promised him I would do it at his last visit to Kidderminster Hospital, so I'm going to do it," said mum-of-one, Rachael.

"He had so much praise and support for the group because they were fantastic and he was thrilled I was going to do this for him."

Anyone wishing to sponsor the team can contact Rachael on 01299 841032.

l Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Support Group, the Reverend Paul Brothwell, said a Shuttle/Times & News article about the organisation's pioneering offer to pay for Prostate Specific Antigen tests for men aged over 50 had boosted their work.

He added 18 people contacted him following the publication, asking to undergo PSA tests at the group's next meeting in Kidderminster Town Hall on July 19.

"All those people have come forward as a result of the article," he said.

"People are talking much more openly about prostate cancer than they have done in the past."

For more details, call Mr Brothwell on 01299 823495.